discus federal issues related to US politics or affecting the entire nation.

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Topline: Tribalism v. Democracy

Life is busy and filled with distractions. We wanted to make sure you saw these articles about the pressing issues facing our country.

Life is busy and filled with distractions. We wanted to make sure you saw these articles about the pressing issues facing our country.

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Tribalism Versus DemocracyManhattan Institute — Nov. 15, 2017Jonathan Haidt, a well-known social psychologist and author, discusses the dangers of tribalism. He warns that the current trend of campus liberalism to divide people based on ethnicity, religion, and gender is ultimately a threat to the fabric of a democratic society, and encourages broader awareness of our responsibilities as citizens.

Citizenship

The Death of NewsPublic Books — Nov. 28, 2017Victor Pickard argues that news is a public service, yet is treated largely as a private commodity. He explains why this is a dangerous phenomenon, and how it leads to a poor incentive structure that does little to inform voters on the actual issues. In his view, we are primed more for culture war than for maintaining a democratic system.

Governance

Sabotaging American InfluenceThe New York Times — Nov. 27, 2017As the administration continues its assault on the State Department and the Foreign Service, the NYT reflects on the cost to American soft power around the world. We need a robust State Department to promote and defend democracy around the world, especially when authoritarian movements are on the rise.

Russia

Tsar Donald IThe Atlantic — Nov. 27, 2017Masha Gessen talks about Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and the similarities between the two men and their styles of governing. She points out that both rally support through appeals to an “imaginary past,” while trying to dominate their societies by dominating and exploiting that culture.

Technology

Social Media’s False PromiseBuzzfeed News — Nov. 28, 2017Social media promised to be the great equalizer. What we didn’t realize was that it would also enable malicious entities to blend in and influence our public discourse to an unprecedented degree. The format tends to encourage outrage and partisanship, which can only poison our already toxic political environment.